Folding chair



1934- w. w. B'OARDMAN FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Filed Nov, 7, 1930 A'ITORN EYS Jan. 30, 1934. w. w. BOARDMAN FOLDING CHAIR Filed Nov. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3Q, 1934 time 'FFIQE l l sesame FGLDHNG CHAER Whitloclr W. Boardmamfioboiien, N. .f.

signor. to Ferguson. firothers Manufacturing Company, Hoboken, N.

New Jersey 5., a corporation of Application November 7, 193d. Serial No. 494,087

2 Claims.

One object of my invention is to provide a folding chair with arm rests which are movable into and out of their operative positions independently of the folding or unfolding of the chair so that the arm rests may or may not be used, as desired; means being provided for locking the arm rests in their operative positions and for reventing lateral displacement of the arm rests.

Another object is to provide a folding chair which will be light, strong and durable.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front View of the chair in its folding position;

Fig. 2 represents a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 represents a back view of the chair its folding position;

Fig. l represents a front view of the chair in its unfolded position with both of its arm rests raised to their operative positions;

Fig. 5 represents a side view of the chair;

Fig. 6 represents a detail side view with both of the arm rests lowered into their folded positions along the back frame;

Fig. 7 represents a detail vertical section on a much larger scale showing the hinged connection between the seat and one of the front legs of the chair; and

Fig. 8 represents a detail side view on the same scale as Fig. 7, showing the spring means for exerting yielding pressure on the arm rest brace to automatically lock the arm rest when the arm is raised to its operative position.

The back frame 1 of the folding chair is shown as being provided with extensions forming the front legs 2. The rear legs 3 of the chair are pivoted intermediate their ends to the front legs by means of a crossbar 4; spring blocks 5 being provided between the outer sides of the rear legs and the inner sides of the front legs. These rear legs are shown as connected at their upper ends by a crossbrace 6 and at points near their lower ends by a crossbrace 7.

The seat comprises a frame 8 and a suitable cushion 9, which seat is pivoted to the front legs by means of a metal reinforcing bar 10 which extends across the bottom of the seat and projects beyond the sides of the seat. The ends of this crossbar are turned laterally upward to form ears 11, countersunk in the inner sides of the front legs 2 and pivoted thereto by means of studs 12. The upper portions of the rear legs are cut away at their back edges, as shown at 13, to permit the seat and rear legs to be folded into substan tially the plane of the front legs and back frame. chair seat is supported at its front portion hen the chair is unfolded, upon the upper ends the rear legs 3, to which it is connected by rests which are movable independently into and out of their operative positions; means being provided for ovably locking the arm rests in their we positions. In the present instance rest comprises an outer laterally extended a n engaging member 15 of wood or other suitable aterial and an inner member 16 of sheet metal other suitable material, which inner .iember is pivoted at 17 to the outer side of the frame so that when the arm rest is in its owered or folded position it will extend along the u or side of the back frame. This inner member 6 i the rest is extended rearwardly beyond t ivot l? to form a latch 18 which is arranged ,0 enter a slot 19 in a stop plate 20, secured to the rear side of the back frame, when the arm rest is in its unfolded or operative position. This interlocking connection between the arm rest and stop plate serves to limit the upward or unfoldl ovement of the arm rest and also serves to prevent lateral displacement of the arm rest.

A spring actuated swinging brace 21 for each arm rest is pivoted at 22 to a depending bracket 23 secured to the bottom of the outer member 15 of the arm rest, the lower end of which brace is slidably mounted in a keeper 24 pivoted at 25 to the outer side of the back frame. This lower end of the brace 21 is provided with a recess 26 adapted to receive the pivot 25 for locking the brace and thereby the arm rest in its raised or operative position. This brace is spring actuated for causing it to automatically swing into its locking position when the arm rest is raised to its operative position. In the present instance this is provided for as follows: An angle plate 27 swings upon the pivot 22 and is provided with a lateral extension 28 which is interposed between the rear edge of the brace 21 and the under face of a plate spring 29 secured to the under side of the outer member 15 of the arm a shown as resilient metal straps 31 secured to the back rest and to the back frame.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a folding chair with arm rests which may or may not be used, as desired; thus materially improving the usefulness of the chair. The back rest shown and described, but not claimed herein, forms the subject matter of my divisional application filed September 24th, 1931, Serial No. 564,776.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited .to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is:-

plate thereon having a slot therein and an arm rest comprising inner and outer members, the inner member being pivoted to the back frame and vextended rearwardly beyond the pivot to form a, latch for entering said stop plate slot to limit the unfolding movement of the arm rest and to prevent its lateral displacement.

WHITLOCK W. BOARDMAN. 

